THE TRIP, PART 2

DAY 4 6/20

First of all, let me digress just a little. This past week they moved the Caboose from the
playground at McCaw Elementary school to the campus of McCaw School of Mines, a
distance of approximately half the length of a football field. It was an awesome sight
seeing the caboose hoisted up into the air by a crane and then set down safely in its new
home. Awesome indeed, second only to the sight a few years ago of a hoist lifting a
port-a-potty and dangling it over the Henderson City Hall. No s__t!

Day 4--It was approximately 11 pm when Bob and I arrived at Lori's. Defintely worn
out, having had nothing to eat or drink since about 2:30 that afternoon. Not hungry,
but a beer (actually 2) really sounded good and a short visit with Lori, and then off to
bed. Slept good that night.

Day 5 6/21. Got up about 8 am and Lori and I decided to go for breakfast and then to
the store to do some shopping for groceries. It was Ryan's (vi"s newphew and Lori's
cousin) birthday. We were invited to his home for Brats and then the plan was to go
to some catholic church's Fiesta. First we were invited to Sherri's as her brother
and Erma and Don would all be there. Sounds like a jam packed day to me. I begged
off the Meyerpeter (Vi's cousin) visit and also backed out of the Fiesta. I am getting
way too old to keep up that pace. I still hadn't recovered from the car,train,bus thing
yet. No problem, they all understood. Still had to put kisses in the party favors I made
for Ruth and Ed's anniversary party tomorrow. We did go to Ryan's and had bratz
and a fun evening. Ryan is kind of like Billy, funny things come out of his mouth. His
cell phone rang while we were there and he said he couldn't talk long, because he wanted
to be a good "guest" I thought we were his "guests" Oh well, only in Milwaukee.

Lori took me back to her house and they all went to the festival.

Day 6 6/21 Sunday dawned bright an early and it was time to get ready to go to
Ruth and Ed's (my cousin) 60th wedding anniversary. I had lost the invitation, I
couldn't figure out where it had gone, I knew it was in the house somewhere, but
didn't know if I was supposed to be there at 12 or 12:30. Oh well, remember what
I said about the best laid plans. I got there just about 12:30 and looked around and
didn't know who all those "old people" were. I finally spotted Bruce (Ruth and Ed's
oldest, so I knew I was in the right place. Found out I was seated at table #1 as I
was a member of the wedding party. There were about 100 people there, of which
I probably knew 25 or 30. Seated at our table, besides Ruth and Ed, were Ed's
brother Herb and his wife. He was best man and I probably have not seen himsince
the wedding. Ruth and Jerry Lawonn and their daughter Carol, Ruth was the soloist
at our wedding. Wally and Rosie, Ruth's brother and my cousin, our old choir director
Paul Jungkuntz ( we used to play Sheepeshead with him). Ruth's childhood friend
Audrey Molitor, she was our neighbor on 23rd street. Lois Dietz, her father was our
pastor, who baptized and confirmed me and Helen Koschman, whose father was my
7th grade teacher (he had to be hospitalized after our class moved on to 8th grade.
He also is the teacher who went to slap Melvin Goldsmith one time and Melvin ducked
and Audrey got it. Helen and my cousin Ruth used to walk me to grade school when
I was little. Also met my "first love" Bill Jahrman. When I was about 7 or 8 Billy and
I went sledding behind the billboard on Teutonia and Burleigh and the sled overturned
and billy kissed me. I was in love. He was our neighbor and and also belonged to the
same church our family did. His parents and mine were friends and he was a member
of our wedding party and then became my brother-in-law when he married my sister
Darlene. It was such fun seeing all these people again and reminiscing over old time.
They then passed out choir music and and the choir director had a portable piano
brought in and we sang the afternoon away, in parts, mind you. I wont say we were
good but after the first couple of songs the choir director reminded us when church
services were and where we should meet for choir practise. What a great afternoon.
I was sorry to see it end. But all good things must come to an end and so did this
afternoon.

Wally and Rosie gave me a ride back to Lori's. That evening Lori had to take some
things over to her brother Bob's for the 4th of July bash, so we arranged to meet
at a mexican restaurant for dinner (was I hungry after the big dinner of steak and
chicken at the anniversay party, no, but I tried not to be a party pooper either) I
ate about half my enchiladas and took the rest home. Kim (Bob's daughter) met us
for dinner and while we were there Robert (Bob's son) invited us to his girlfriend's
house to visit. He is engaged to Brittany and they have a daughter Payton who will
be two in September. They are living at Brittany"s mother's house.

Another jam packed day. Looking forward to Monday, so far no plans! Oops, almost
forgot. Went to Pic'nSave and picked up beer. GOT CARDED Only in Wisconsin!

TO BE CONTINUED>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

THE TRIP

DAY ONE
I was so looking forward to this trip to Wisconsin by train as all of you know, but somehow
the best laid plans, etc etc etc, any way here is a step by step saga about my adventure.
Tues. 6/17----started of with a bang. I planned to leave my apartment about 9 am to
drive to So. Cal, where I would catch the train on 6/18 in Fullerton, leaving my car with
Beth while I was gone. Really good thinking on my part, because if I chose to let Amtrak
make all of my plans, they would either bus me to Los Angeles, or Barstow, where I would
catch the train about 2 am. Who wants to be in Barstow in the middle of the night.

I really did get away by 9 am, the temperature was already 102 degrees. Gaswas $4.31
per gallon. I stopped at McDonald's and got their breakfast chicken sandwich (save your
money, I threw it away in La Habra) and was on my way. All went well until leaving
the State Line and entering Calif. Maybe 15 minutes later the traffic was completely
stopped as far as the eye could see (and you could see all the way up that hill) It was
way too hot to stop the engine and broil under the sun and no one knew what was going
on. I sat there about 30 minutes and decided to give it another 15 minutes and then
heading back to the state line or maybe even going home and starting out early on Wed.
morning. Looking back, this could have been a omen! Oh well, about 10 minutes later
the traffic started moving and we were once again on our way. What caused traffic
to stop, no one had a clue.

Needless to say I didn't get to La Habra until about 3 pm. I had planned to go to
Fullerton and send my big suitcase on 24 hrs ahead of me so it would make the connection
to Chicago (past train experience taught me this) but I had to go to the bathroom so
bad I decided to stop at Beth's and when she came home from work we could go to
the depot and then to dinner.

Having used the Sepulveda facilities, i no sooner exited the little room and there was
knocking at the door. I opened it to see Luke, Gavin, Maggie and Melanie there to greet
me. We had a great visit and when Beth came home we took the suitcase to the station,
sent it on it's way got my ticket and watched a few trains come thru the station, much
to the delight of the boys. Then we went to dinner and back to Beth's house.

Day Two, 6/18, had the whole day to relax, as my train didn't leave until 7:3o that
evening. Turned out to be a good thing. Had dinner that evening with Beth and Tony
and then went to the depot about 6:30 where we learned that Amtrak had tried calling
me (my home phone, and I was in Cal.) they then faxed me at the station stating that
due to the flooding in Iowa the train was unable to cross the Mississippi River, so we
would detrain at Kansas City, Mo and travel by bus to Gaylesburg and then board
another train for Chicago. Well, so much for 39 uninterrupted hours of relaxation on
the Southwest Chief, but I could live with that. After all, I was only inconvenience,
think of all the trauma the people who lived along the river were going thru.

Well, the train was two hours late to begin with. It only started in L.A. so much for
being on time the whole trip. (that's why I sent my suitcase ahead of me) finally
about 9:30 it pulled into the station and I was finally aboard. Thought I would go
to the lounge car and get a much needed beer, only to find out the attendant was
taking a break. Give me a break, he was only enroute for about 30 miles and I am
sure I needed that beer much more than he needed that break. Oh, the heck with
it, make up my bed and I will go to sleep, by now it is 10 pm.

Day 3 6/19 I had the schedule of the route the train would take and much to my
delight we would be going thru Alb where Mike and Alyson and Carter had moved to
the previous Sunday. I called them (yes, I had good cell service all the way to Chicago)
The Gilles' were able to meet me at the station where we had a short visit, about 15
minutes, while the train refueled and had some work done on it. (the restrooms in
one of the cars was not working) Mine was fine tho. Sleepers had first choice on
reservations for lunch and dinner (breakfast was first come first served) I skipped
lunch because I wanted to visit with the kids, so I really enjoyed my dinner. the whole
time I was on the train, I didn't open one page of my book, I just thoroughly enjoyed
the trip. However this dark cloud was hanging over everyone's head, not knowing
exactly what the scoop was. Even the crew was not happy because they did not know
what was ahead of them. Take nervous passengers and an uptight crew, decided to
go to bed and let tomorrow take care of itself.

Day 4--6/20. Diner opened at 6 am, decided to have breakfast and then gather my
belongings . We were due to get into KC at 9:30 am (still 2 hrs behind schedule)
We went outside the station to see about 6 buses lined up with no one to tell us which
was which. We had all been told we would go to Gaylesburg, but the crabby bus
drivers (they were told we would arrive at 7;30) said they were instructed to take
us all the way to Chicago. Where were the Amtrak reps. We loaded our luggage
(carry-ons ) under the bus ourselves, no room to keep it with us and were told
it would be a 10 hour trip with an hour stop for lunch. The first bus driver was a
dip s__t who was either talking on her cell phone, eating or playing her loud music
the whole way to East St. Louis. Had our lunch break, new driver who also had an
attitude and let some woman put a DVD on about Bumble bees and Honey and then
Cheaper by the Dozen, at the loudest volume you could bear, because they made
families with kids sit in the back so as not to disturb the drivers. Anyway we got
to Chicago at 8 pm Friday night. I went to the ticket desk and she said the last train
to Milwaukee leaves i8n 2minutes, you wont make it. I walked further into the
station and saw an attendant at the info center and asked him what I could do. He
said I could make it and I told him I was too friggin old to run after any damn train.
He said give me your suitcase, and grabbed his radio and called the engineer and
said HOLD THAT TRAIN, and miracle of all miracles, they held that train. I arrived
in Milwaukee at 9:45 that night, a mere 3 hours later than originally scheduled.
My brother me and drove me out to Lori's

TO BE CONTINUED..............................